Born in Phillipsburg, N.J., on Feb. 27, 1930, he was the son of the late Thomas B. and Mabel S. Fishler, and was raised by the late Jacob and Mary E. Searfoss.

He was the husband of the late Patricia Ruth (Marlowe) Fishler, who predeceased him on April 16, 2010.

Bud retired as junior high school principal for the Pen Argyl Area School District in 1990 after more than 30 years in education as both a teacher and administrator. He began his career as a math teacher for the Bangor Area School District in 1956 and later moved into administration.

Having grown up in Bangor, he graduated from Bangor High School in 1948. He served in the Korean conflict in the Navy onboard the USS Leyte (CV-32): 1948-1952. He returned to the Bangor area and graduated from East Stroudsburg State Teachers College in 1955. He also earned his master's degree in education from Lehigh University.

Always active in the community, he served on the Bangor town council for eight years and later as mayor. He also was a fixture at the Rescue Fire Co., with more than 50 years of active service having responded to countless emergency calls.

Buddy was also a 32nd degree Free Mason and served as Worshipful Master (1968 and 1991). He was a 50-year member of Bangor Lodge 565 Free & Accepted Masons, now merged with Portland Lodge 311 F&AM. He also was a member of Bangor Elks Lodge 1106 for 37 years.

Bud was a member of Grace United Methodist Church, Pen Argyl, and a member of the former St. John's UCC, Bangor.

There will be a visitation from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 3, and from 9 to 9:45 a.m. Friday, Jan. 4, at Grace United Methodist Church, 404 E. Mountain Ave., Pen Argyl. Memorial services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday at the church.